BATS; Old-Timers' Day? Berra Wouldn't Miss It

By HARVEY ARATON

Published: July 2, 2012

On Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, Joe Torre said of his old friend Yogi Berra, ''Since he's been back, he never misses anything - especially this day.''

But until Berra arrived at Yankee Stadium on Sunday morning - accompanied by Dave Kaplan and Joni Bronander of his museum and learning center staff in Little Falls, N.J. - there was some question as to whether Berra would attend the annual event, the last of its kind in the major leagues.

Berra, who had last been at the Stadium on May 12 to celebrate his 87th birthday, has recently been undergoing therapy to help with some circulatory issues that have made it difficult for him to walk. In that time, he and his wife, Carmen, have left their longtime home in Montclair, N.J., and moved into an apartment in an assisted living community.

Berra, who played on 10 World Series winning teams with the Yankees, was greeted Sunday at the Stadium entrance by Ron and Bonnie Guidry. He was taken by wheelchair to a room where the former Yankees were dressing, where he was surrounded by former teammates and players he coached or managed.

Ralph Terry, who pitched for the Yankees in the 1960s, asked Berra to autograph his cap.

''He's in his element, with people who speak the same language as him and that's when he happiest,'' said Guidry, Berra's constant companion in spring training in the 13 years since Berra returned to the Yankees after his self-imposed 14-year exile because of a feud with George Steinbrenner. ''You can see it in his face.''

For the introductory ceremony, Berra and Whitey Ford, who was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974, two years after Berra, rode in together from the outfield. Berra left the stadium soon after the ceremony and was not made available for interviews.

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.

PHOTO: Yogi Berra at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Berra, 87, has had some circulatory issues. (PHOTOGRAPH BY BARTON SILVERMAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES)